As the Masters tournament kicks off, a dozen players from the LIV Golf league are vying for the prestigious green jacket at Augusta National this week, aiming to clinch victory come Sunday. Notable contenders include Brooks Koepka, Bryson DeChambeau, and Joaquin Niemann, all eyeing their first Masters title.
While past champions like Jon Rahm, Dustin Johnson, and Phil Mickelson are making a return, several prominent names are notably absent from the event, highlighting the league’s challenges in broadening its presence across this year’s major championships.
Established in June 2022, LIV Golf has faced obstacles in providing Official World Golf Ranking points to its players, resulting in a decline in rankings and missed opportunities for major tournament qualifications. In 2023, OWGR chairman Peter Dawson emphasized the difficulties in integrating LIV into the rankings system fairly alongside existing tours and their multitude of players.
Among the absentees at the Masters is Talor Gooch, who achieved remarkable success in 2023 but has seen a decline in performance since then, although he remains at the top of the all-time LIV earnings list. Ian Poulter, a seasoned player known for his Ryder Cup performances, will also be missing from Augusta, having not participated in the Masters for the past four years.
Additionally, Lee Westwood, a former world number one and close contender for a Masters victory in the past, will not be part of this year’s tournament. Despite his absence, Westwood has expressed confidence in some of his LIV peers to deliver surprises at Augusta National.
Westwood highlighted Sergio Garcia’s current form and Charl Schwartzel’s recent strong showing, emphasizing the importance of course familiarity at Augusta. He noted that previous champions in good form stand a chance at success in the tournament.
Notable players like Adrian Meronk, Tom McKibbin, and Louis Oosthuizen are also absent from this year’s Masters due to various reasons, with each missing out on the opportunity to showcase their skills at the prestigious event.